Moving Centre Console Switches

[woodwormm Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woodwormm]

Just wondering if anyone has moved or can comment on moving switches from their factory location to one of the blank spots not utilised.

I have a 2005 VX.

1. I'd like to move the DAC switch from next to the 4x4 Stubby lever to under the ashtray, near the power outlets.

2. Also I 'd like to move the rear aircon on/off from the back face of the centre console to the same location near the power outlets/ashtray.

Reasoning? 1. I'd like to create a storage area next to the 4x4 lever (phone/wallet) 2. The kids kick the on/off switch of the rear air con to turn it off as they please, the main culprit is 4 years old, so air con control still belongs to my dictatorship for a few more years.

I'm hoping both of these switches are supplied from the front dash area and that I'll just be able to peel the loom out of the console and move the switches. Though i have seen quite a few cables running under the passenger seat, so unsure if these are involved in this run.

So at a guess I'm going to be faced with either finding space to tuck away excess wire, or extending the switch wires. If I have to extend them, anyone see any issues with just splicing and soldering?

thoughts/comments?

Cheers

[Guest Close Guest]

The switches are keyed and so may not fit readily into other blank spots. Worth a try though.

[woodwormm Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woodwormm]

Thanks Amts. Keyed ? As in lugs of plastic cast/moulded into their edges?

I was hoping they were a generic spring type clip like the aftermarket switches you can fit into the blanks .

[Guest Close Guest]

A lot of the Prado switches are keyed. These may be the same.

The wiring loom from memory is also bound. As I can remember trying to move the DAC switch as it kept getting bumped. Gave it away because a loom cut was needed. ( from memory).
Although just yesterday I was considering it again. Moving DAC and 4x4 switches up onto the dash.


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[woodwormm Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close woodwormm]

I wonder if an extension lead could be developed ? Without looking what type of plug on the switches im just hypothesising. But I'm assuming the switch is the male and the wiring the female .. so if the same style of plugs could be sourced in male and female an extension could be made.

Just noticed this am the blanks look a different shape but there is one blank next to 2nd start appears same shape ...

[Guest Close Guest]

You can cut the plug leaving a serviceable length of wire left, then extend the loom and reuse the plug in the new location. All the switches are the same size. The rear ac switch is the only one that isn't the same.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Time to get creative with a soldering iron and re-shape the holes to suit. Has worked for me for years and many plugs and switches. I have these:



And these:

[Guest Close Guest]

Moved my DAC switch today.
Easily enough done. Extended the loom, it's plugged from under the drink holder so unwrapping the loom to relocate isn't possible. Very easy job to cut the loom and solder a new length in. I added some military connectors as I had some laying around.
I relocated the switch up next to the 2nd start button.
The loom:

The keyways on the switch holes.

For reference.
2nd start/ DAC/ 4x4 lock are all the same keyway.
I simply ground one of the keyways off the DAC switch so it fits where I wanted. It does not change how tight it fits and it still is firmly locked in.
The rear of the DAC switch.

The final position.

Switch showing the keyways Moulder into the plastic body.


I am going to move the 4x4 lock up here too and then the DAC or 2nd start switch will be relocated to the right hand switch panel near the dash lights dimmer.

[Guest Close Guest]

Much better located up there.